[SOLVED] Broken Hard drive

crazyscotsman · 06-19-2008, 06:39 AM

Here is my problem, i switched my PC on at the weekend and all of a sudden the safe mode screen comes up and i have 30 secs to choose one of the options, safe mode, safe mode networking etc i have tried them all but it just keeps taking me round and round in circles, think hard drive is broken, in fact pretty sure as it has been making a hell of a noise for about 3 mths.

I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE BACKED IT UP (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh)

My question is:

Can i use an external hard drive to boot up my PC and recover my lost data from my broken hard drive and how the hell would i be able to

please help.

**vladimirb** · 06-19-2008, 07:53 AM

Hi mate,
it is way to much better to put your HDD that it's broken to friends PC and backup data because even if you have Operating System on your external HDD you might wont be able to boot with it...
So best thing is to take your HDD and try to backup data on another PC...
But if HDD is broken, you might wont be able to backup data if PC does not see your HDD...
To make sure your HDD is visible, start your PC and go into BIOS and check if HDD is visible. If it is visible then I think you will be able to backup data, but if it is not visible chances are little mate...
Hope this will help you mate...

**Deleted090308** · 06-19-2008, 10:35 PM

Yes, mount the HDD in a working computer.
Then copy the data you can/want to another HDD.

Some data recovery programs:
GetDataBack
Recuva
Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier

crazyscotsman · 06-20-2008, 04:23 AM

Thanks folks i will try this, is it simple enough to check HDD using BIOS because this is all foreign to me?

**vladimirb** · 06-20-2008, 05:02 AM

Hi mate,
yes it is simple... Just when you start PC, press F2,F10,DEL or whatever your system asks you to press to enter in BIOS...
There you will find under system information or similar tab model of your HDD and DVD-CD/RW and how much memory do you have etc...

crazyscotsman · 06-20-2008, 08:06 AM

Cheers mate i will try this is soon as i finish work, only 55mins to go, life is a struggle when you canny get on your PC at home. Thank for all the help.

da.bears.fan · 06-20-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vladimirb

Hi mate,
it is way to much better to put your HDD that it's broken to friends PC and backup data because even if you have Operating System on your external HDD you might wont be able to boot with it...
So best thing is to take your HDD and try to backup data on another PC...
But if HDD is broken, you might wont be able to backup data if PC does not see your HDD...
To make sure your HDD is visible, start your PC and go into BIOS and check if HDD is visible. If it is visible then I think you will be able to backup data, but if it is not visible chances are little mate...
Hope this will help you mate...

How do you go into BIOS and check if HDD is visible?

**Deleted090308** · 06-20-2008, 06:51 PM

Is the HDD hooked up in another computer now?
If so, look in Disk management (Right click "My computer" > choose "Manage" > Disk Management).

If the drive isn't there, the computer hasn't detected it.
That could be caused by:
Faulty drive
Incorrect jumper settings
Broken data cable
Bad power (plug)

To enter BIOS:
Tap a key when the computer starts - Del, F2, F10, Esc etc...

~~pican~~ · 06-22-2008, 11:25 AM

I use GetDataBack to recover my lost data. And it work !!

**Deleted090308** · 06-22-2008, 11:51 AM

I'm glad you got your data back.

06-19-2008, 06:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
crazyscotsman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 OS: win XP home edition	[SOLVED] Broken Hard drive Here is my problem, i switched my PC on at the weekend and all of a sudden the safe mode screen comes up and i have 30 secs to choose one of the options, safe mode, safe mode networking etc i have tried them all but it just keeps taking me round and round in circles, think hard drive is broken, in fact pretty sure as it has been making a hell of a noise for about 3 mths. I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE BACKED IT UP (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh) My question is: Can i use an external hard drive to boot up my PC and recover my lost data from my broken hard drive and how the hell would i be able to please help.

06-19-2008, 07:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,664 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: Broken Hard drive Hi mate, it is way to much better to put your HDD that it's broken to friends PC and backup data because even if you have Operating System on your external HDD you might wont be able to boot with it... So best thing is to take your HDD and try to backup data on another PC... But if HDD is broken, you might wont be able to backup data if PC does not see your HDD... To make sure your HDD is visible, start your PC and go into BIOS and check if HDD is visible. If it is visible then I think you will be able to backup data, but if it is not visible chances are little mate... Hope this will help you mate... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

06-19-2008, 10:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Broken Hard drive Yes, mount the HDD in a working computer. Then copy the data you can/want to another HDD. Some data recovery programs: GetDataBack Recuva Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier

06-20-2008, 04:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
crazyscotsman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 OS: win XP home edition	Re: Broken Hard drive Thanks folks i will try this, is it simple enough to check HDD using BIOS because this is all foreign to me?

06-20-2008, 05:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
vladimirb Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Banja Luka, Serb Republic Posts: 3,664 OS: xp pro sp3, Server 2003, Windows 7 Professional x64bit My System	Re: Broken Hard drive Hi mate, yes it is simple... Just when you start PC, press F2,F10,DEL or whatever your system asks you to press to enter in BIOS... There you will find under system information or similar tab model of your HDD and DVD-CD/RW and how much memory do you have etc... __________________ MCP - MCSA Cisco SMB Account Manager

06-20-2008, 08:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
crazyscotsman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 OS: win XP home edition	Re: Broken Hard drive Cheers mate i will try this is soon as i finish work, only 55mins to go, life is a struggle when you canny get on your PC at home. Thank for all the help.

06-20-2008, 06:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Broken Hard drive Is the HDD hooked up in another computer now? If so, look in Disk management (Right click "My computer" > choose "Manage" > Disk Management). If the drive isn't there, the computer hasn't detected it. That could be caused by: Faulty drive Incorrect jumper settings Broken data cable Bad power (plug) To enter BIOS: Tap a key when the computer starts - Del, F2, F10, Esc etc...

06-22-2008, 11:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
~~pican~~ Troubled Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Indonesia Posts: 8 OS: xp sp2	Re: Broken Hard drive I use GetDataBack to recover my lost data. And it work !! Last edited by Deleted090308; 06-28-2008 at 10:49 PM.

06-22-2008, 11:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Broken Hard drive I'm glad you got your data back.